New Express Delivery National Standard Takes Effect on May 1, But Full Implementation Still Needs a Break-in Period

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] Starting May 1, the series of national standards for Express Delivery Services will be officially implemented. The standards clearly set out rules on issues such as "inspect the goods before signing for receipt," "inter-provincial deliveries taking more than 7 days count as a complete delay," and "civilized sorting," and stipulate that couriers have the right to open and inspect parcels when sending them. Most consumers hold a positive and welcoming attitude toward the new national standard, but it will still take some time for all relevant parties to put the various provisions of the express delivery "new national standard" into practice.

If the outer packaging is abnormal, inspect the contents before signing

As of today, the series of national standards for Express Delivery Services takes effect. The standards clearly stipulate that couriers should inform recipients to inspect express items face-to-face before signing for them; if an item's "outer packaging shows obvious damage or other abnormalities, the courier of the express company should inform the recipient to inspect the contents before signing."

Zeng Yi, associate researcher at the China National Institute of Standardization, said in a media interview that the new national standard sets out rules by category for different express items. For ordinary express items: before signing, the recipient should inspect the outer packaging, carefully checking whether the outer packaging is damaged, whether the weight has decreased, or whether there are traces of repackaging. If the outer packaging is damaged or otherwise abnormal, the recipient should inspect the contents before signing, and the courier should cooperate.

For other express items such as online shopping purchases and cash-on-delivery shipments, the express service organization should, in accordance with national regulations, sign a contract with the sender (merchant) specifying whether it is "inspect before signing" or "sign before inspecting." If the express service organization has agreed with the merchant on "inspect before signing," the courier should not require the consumer to "sign before inspecting." Xiao Luosheng, head of the market supervision division of the Hunan Provincial Postal Administration, said that as early as 2009, the Hunan Provincial Postal Administration stipulated that users making mail-order, online and TV shopping purchases could inspect first and then sign for receipt.

If someone else signs for a package without consent and the item is lost, the express company bears full responsibility

In cases where an item is received on someone's behalf, the express service organization should note that without the consent of the recipient or the sender, the courier may not hand the item to another person to sign for, including a company's mailroom or a residential compound's gatekeeper; otherwise, if problems such as the loss of the item arise as a result, the express service organization shall bear full responsibility.

The new national standard stipulates that express companies should provide at least 2 free delivery attempts for an item. If the item has not been delivered after 2 attempts and the recipient still needs delivery, the express company may charge an additional fee, but it must inform the recipient of the fee standard in advance. On compensation, the new rules stipulate that express companies have the responsibility to remind senders to insure their items; if an item is lost or damaged, the express company should compensate according to the insured value; if there is no insurance, the express company should provide corresponding compensation based on the actual extent of the loss, or the two parties may settle it through agreement — rather than 3-5 times the express fee.

Domestic non-local express delivery taking more than 7 days counts as delayed

"If an express item is not delivered within the time specified by the new express delivery rules, consumers can apply to the express company for compensation," Xiao Luosheng revealed.

The express delivery rules specify: 24 hours for intra-city express; 72 hours for domestic non-local express; 6 working days for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan express; 6 working days for Asia and North America; 8 working days for Europe; 9 working days for Oceania. Intra-city express taking more than 3 days and domestic non-local express taking more than 7 days count as delayed. Compensation for delay should be exemption of the service fee for this shipment (excluding surcharges such as insurance). So what happens if food such as mooncakes is delayed and spoils? The new rules make clear that where the delay causes the direct loss of value of the contents, compensation should be made as for a lost or damaged item.

"Hello, may I ask what you are sending? Let me take a look first." On the morning of the 1st, Fang Guibao of the Qibao branch of YTO Express visited a resident's home on Huamao Road in Minhang District to collect an item, deliberately "asking a few more questions."

Inside the package were four small boxes of tea. Fang Guibao looked carefully, then asked the customer to fill out the form. "Starting today, express delivery is implementing the new national standard. The company trained us on it long ago."

Fang Guibao said these inspection rules are mainly to ensure express delivery safety. In recent years, cases involving explosives and prohibited items in express deliveries have occurred in some places, and the company repeatedly emphasizes "express delivery safety" to its employees.

However, he also admitted that if every package had to be inspected, it would be quite difficult. For example, some long-time customers in office buildings often leave a batch of packages together at the company's front desk and let the courier pick them up after work; also, inspecting packages takes quite a bit of extra time, and some couriers, in order to pick up and deliver more packages, are racing against the clock every minute and have no time for careful inspection.

The express delivery "new national standard" also stipulates "inspect before signing," meaning recipients must inspect their packages in person. Fang Guibao said, "This places higher demands on our work. When we deliver packages, we often find that recipients aren't at home, so we have to make repeated trips."

It appears that, for the various provisions of the express delivery "new national standard" to be truly implemented, all relevant parties still need some time.

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362068.html